Four Beautiful Christmas Table Settings

One of the absolute best parts about blogging is meeting wonderful readers who share similar interests. A few months back I received an e-mail from Marie Barnes, inviting me for a “visit to her porch.” Marie and her husband, Governor Roy Barnes, moved four years ago from Mableton to Marietta to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Before moving they built what I like to call a “new” old house, a beautiful Victorian home not far from the historic Marietta Square.

I took a good many photographs during my visit and I can’t wait to share all the beautiful rooms and Christmas decor Marie has lovingly created throughout their beautiful home. I know you’re going to be just as enchanted as I was but for today, for Tablescape Thursday, we’ll just focus on the four beautiful table settings I saw during my visit.

During a visit to the Barnes home, you know from the moment you step through the front door, this is a real home where real people live and enjoy life to the fullest. Since their children and six grandchildren are frequent visitors, the Barnes’ built their home with family in mind. Wait until you see the grandchildren’s bedrooms…coming soon, I promise.

Let start our tablescape tour here in Marie’s amazing dining room. I was seriously drooling over her beautiful drapes. Marie decorates 16 Christmas trees each year (yes, you heard right…16 trees!) and one is here in the corner of the dining room. It’s all I can do to not veer off and share everything is this room, but this post would be way too long if I don’t stick to tablescapes today. I promise to share additional pictures of all the trees real soon. Marie decorates each and every one herself and they are stunning!

This gorgeous dining room table was set with one of my favorite Christmas china patterns, Holiday by Lenox. The flatware Marie used is called Holly Berry and it was perfect with this holiday china.

One of the many things Marie and I have in common is we both enjoy shopping in HomeGoods, Marshalls and Pier 1. The glassware for this table came from HomeGoods and Pier 1. I immediately recognized the napkin sheaths since I also bought those when they were available in Pier 1 a few years back.

Marie has a wonderful collection of nativity scenes on display in the breakfront in her dining room.

Such a beautiful display for the Christmas holidays…

Just off the kitchen I found another wonderful tablescape with the cutest “peppermint candy” dishware. The tree nearby is also decorated in a peppermint candy theme…wait until you see all the trees!

Marie found this adorable peppermint patterned dishware in Pier 1 last year. Glassware is also from Pier 1, a find this year. Marie mentioned she has her eye out for candycane flatware, so if anyone knows where to find some, please share.

The centerpieces and floral arrangements throughout all the rooms were so beautiful!

Just a few feet away from the peppermint table was a sweet table for the little ones. Marie first used this table with her own children when they were small. Now her six grandchildren can have lunch where there parents once dined. Love that!

Aren’t the elf stockings a hoot? The Barnes’ home is filled with delightful, whimsical touches in every room. Marie found the elf stockings in HomeGoods one year. So fun!

The fourth and final tablescape I’m sharing for this Tablescape Thursday is somewhat hidden away. It’s tucked away between two seating areas in the family room and serves as an overflow dining space when the Barnes’ entertain.

On the day I visited, Marie had a wonderful “nutcracker” themed tablescape set up in this space.

Marie found the nutcracker plates in HomeGoods, while the glassware is from both HomeGoods and Pier 1. This table so beautifully illustrates how you can use the treasures you collect as a wonderful centerpiece in a tablescape. Have a Nutcracker collection? Pull it out and make it the star of your holiday table this year!

I can’t wait to show you more of Marie and Governor Roy Barnes stunning Victorian home. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to all the wonderful tablescapes for this Tablescape Thursday!

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I love looking inside homes like this to see how the decor looks! One can always imagine, but it’s SO much more fun to actually see it! Your friend has a lot of fun elements and put them together really nicely. The trees so far are outta sight!!! So glad you shared this, and I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of the house!

Oh Susan, thanks for sharing this! Every time I go to the Square, I drool over their house and wish I could see it all. A fews years back, their Mableton home was on the Mableton Tour of HOmes and it was just beautiful…so full of Christmas cheer. So, before now, I could only imagine how the new home looks all dressed for Christmas…now I’ll get a glimpse! Thanks. Look forward to the tree post, too!

oh goodness, I am speechless, I can’t believe all of those decorations! The navitity scenes in the break front are stunning! What a fabulous touch! I can’t wait to see more! But first I want to look at all the tablescapes today!

Wow! What an eye candy! Everything is so beautiful, each and every one of the tables and the trees too. The house is amazing! Thank you for sharing this marvelous tablescapes with us, Susan…..Christine

The Barnes home is magnificent…the tablescapes are all so creative and festive…with so much attention to detail…what a gorgeous, yet comfortable home….I have so many favorites…but I can say that the elf stockings on the table legs are genius!!….Thanks so much for presenting their home…you must have been in awe during the entire visit….Looking forward to more of their home!

Oh my goodness! She has the spirit! What a beautiful home full of sentiment and coziness. Can you imagine going to Grandma’s at this house!! Who wouldn’t love it and look forward to it! Love all the tables, they are all fabulous! That table with the elves stockings made me laugh out loud- too cute! The trees all look fabulous and I can’t wait to see them up close! I love nutcrackers and have a collection too. I need to get them out! I love the enthusiasm she has for decorating! Thank-you so much for sharing and I’m so glad she invited you to come over for a visit! Next time you call me and I’ll be the “photographer’s assistant”! 🙂

Oh dear Susan, you always share with us the most amazing homes and this one is spectacular with all the fabulous decorating and incredible tablescapes. I enjoyed this tour very much and got lots of inspiration…it’s like when you have Cornellia’s great home too. Hope you’re enjoying your holiday season, now that you even have a new daughter in the family. Thank you for hosting, so happy to be here!
FABBY

Oh My Goodness! What a gorgeous home and what gorgeous tablescapes. I love everything I saw in this post, and I can’t wait to see more. Thank you Susan, and Marie, for sharig all of this incredible inspiration. laurie

Susan,
What a magnificent historical home all decked out for the Christmas Season!!!
Those nativities were so artfully displayed through the gorgeous glass front!!!
I’m now on the search for Candy Cane dinnerware to go with my Gingerbread Themed Christmas Tree and cabinet!!!
Elf stockings were too, too cute!!!I adore it when homeowners set aside a special place for the children (grandchildren) during the holidays!!!
Thank you for taking us along on this amazingly decorated home tour…and for hosting Tablescape Thursday each week!!! What inspirational ideas!!!
Fondly,
Pat

Oh my word!!! What a gorgeous home and 16 trees!!? My hubby always thinks it is labor to put the lights on just one!!
I just love the peppermint dishware and noticed she even had nutcracker plates. She must have to start decorating weeks in advance. I can imagine what a lovely warm home this is for the family at Christmas.
Cannot wait to see the rest of the house. Thank you Susan for letting us peek in this beautiful home.

Thank you Susan for showing this beautiful home. It puts me in the spirit!
The Chandlery in Roswell has the table leg stockings this year. I was there a few weeks ago and saw them,so cute.
Thanks for your great blog. Merry Christmas, Stephanie

Dear Susan…
This Victorian home is a dream. 16 Christmas trees? OMG… it must be a Chateau.
Absolutely GORGEOUS.
Happy TS and have a blessed w/end ahead.
Greetings from a snowy and freezing Stockholm,
/Chie

OMG, Susan!
This home is a dream!
A dream I want to have every night! 🙂
I will not specify what I love… because… I LOVE everything I can see there!
Thank you so much, Susan and Marie, for the beautiful pictures!
I can’t wait to see the rest!
~Hugs to you~
Cecilia

This is an amazing home. So beautifully decorated yet still has that “homey” feel. I really covet the rooster fabric chairs in the kitchen area. I have rooster dishes that we use daily and would love to have those chairs around my table. But the biggest kick that I got was from the elf stockings for the kid’s table. That is just a precious eye-catcher and you just know the kids love it. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Belinda, that’s a great question! Napkin sheaths are just a decorative sheer that goes over the actual napkin. When guests sit down to dinner, the decorative sheath is removed and they use the napkin that’s underneath. Since the sheaths are normally a sheer type fabric, they wouldn’t work too well as the actual napkin. They are just a pretty decorative touch. About what to do with them, the hostess could collect them or the dinner guest could just place it in their lap with the napkin on top. Usually folks just place them in their lap. Thanks so much! 🙂

I love this woman’s dining room chairs, but even more I want those French chairs next to the nativity collection. Now, to make a decision on what color the material would be since I am entering a new phase in my life; something not faddish, but timeless.

Wow thanks so much for sharing this beautiful home! ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! I just wonder about storage ….that is my biggest problem and I don’t have 1/2 as much as she does! And how early does she start decorating? I start about Nov. 18th (day after DD’s birthday). It’s so worth the trouble tho! Puts you in the holiday spirit! I love the Santa Collection around the room. Did you get more photos of it? I am so glad I signed up for your blog…enjoying every post!

Thanks, Sharon! I’m so glad you’re here! Please share BNOTP with anyone you think would enjoy it…appreciate that so much! Marie told me she starts decorating in August. Since she does all her own decorating, she has to start early to have it all done by December 1st. I have lots more pics to share and will be sharing them over the next week or so. It will probably take 2-3 more posts to share them all. Marie does have a lot of storage. I didn’t see her attic space but there was a gorgeous staircase leading up to it which I’ll share a pic of soon. So I’m guessing there’s a tremendous amount of storage at the top of that beautiful attic staircase. I’m going to start early next year. I was out of town for the Thanksgiving holidays and didn’t get started until I returned, so that put me very much behind this year. I love Christmas, so why not start early and really enjoy it! 🙂

OOOh. drooling over these tables. What fabulous works of art. I love all the nutcrackers, santas.. and the peppermint tree is just adorable. The tables are so fabulous. Thanks so much for sharing and hosting. xo marlis

The tablescapes are beautiful, but my absolute favorite is the nativity-scenes display. Love it! Love it! Love it!
It’s just great to have that kind of space and imagination.

(I’d forgotten all about Pier 1, it’s been awhile. My daughter and I used to shop in there all the time. From the time she was in 10th grade right through high school that was her favorite place to go.)

Wow! All just beautiful! Can’t wait to see her whole house!
Be sure and tell us how long it takes her to do all that decorating? When does she start?
Thanks for hosting and for sharing all this!
Katherine

OMGoodness, this home is amazingly beautiful! It is SO nice to see that the Barnes’ LIVE in their home and that she has such love and talent for decorating! I can’t WAIT to see more!!!! I hope these posts keep coming for quite awhile!!! I don’t want to miss a thing. BTW, if anypne shares a source for the flatware, please let me know, I am searching for some too!!!! Thanks so much for hosting and sharing the Barnes’ home and tables. XO, pinky

Susan, I’m late linking up. Have been out of town and didn’t think I’d get something posted this week. Then this evening at a party I spied this darling table at my friend’s home. Just had to snap a few shots and share this cute idea.

Love the idea of the elf stockings on the table legs. Too cute! ~ Sarah

I have been following your blog for some time and am always so inspired by your tablescapes and decor. Thanks for letting us peek inside this beautiful home! I have recently retired & am in the beginning stages of this blog phenomenon. I would be honored if your would visit mine at journeyofavintagegirl.blogspot.com. Have a wonderful Christmas!
Gail

As I’ve said before, I love your blog, and I particularly love this one of the four table settings! What a beautiful home they have and what great inspirtions! I have shared your blog with both of my grown daughters, my sister,and a good friend or two, I just don’t want them to miss the opportunity to enjoy your beautiful work! We also can have fun together now looking at your creations or pictures and oohing and aahing, and making plans! Thank you for sharing your artistry with us! Helen

Susan,
How lucky you are to gt to see the Barnes house. I have driven by many times and longed for a peak inside. I love the simple wreaths on the outside and had heard over the years that their Mableton house was to die for during the holidays. Can’t wait for the tree pictures.
Thanks – you lucky girl. And I have have to say I am a wee bit jealous.
Pat

So very ‘festive’! I am actually at a loss for words as it is difficult to choose what is my favourite so I will just say ‘thank you Marie for sharing a piece of your Magic Of Christmas with me ….. and thank you Susan for the wonderful tour.’ Hugs -Brenda-
Footnote: Regarding the candy cane cultlery, I do know that Cambridge Silversmiths Ltd. produced a 12-pce. flatware set of them at one time but am not sure if they still do nor am I aware of what the quality was.

Thank you so much! I was on Pintrest looking for some Kitchen Christmas decor ideas! Well I just enjoyed a cup of tea while looking thru this beautiful home! I shared it with a friend! Thank you again!

Of all the old festivals, however, that of Christmas awakens the strongest and most heartfelt associations. There is a tone of solemn and sacred feeling that blends with our conviviality, and lifts the spirit to a state of hallowed and elevated enjoyment…” -Old Christmas by Washington Irving.
Nothing has changed in that regard throughout the years and I have seen no expression greater than that of Marie’s decorating for this wonderful season. Getting a peek is next best to having Marie for a Gramma! Thanks to both of you for sharing!